Emma, of Stony Stratford, didn’t realise she suffered from anorexia until she was in her 20s. Her food portions had dramatically reduced and she was losing a lot of weight courtesy of an obsessive exercise regiment.

“It’s an addictive personality trait,” she explained. “I kept myself away from people, and only my boyfriend really saw what was happening.”

After looking up the traits of anorexia, Emma realised she ticked all the known markers of the disorder, and sought help before it was too late.

But with the nearest specialist counselling available in Luton, she decided it was time to make a change in Milton Keynes.

She set up BalancED MK – a support network for people suffering with eating disorders in Milton Keynes.

The group provides one-to-one counselling, information and drop-in group sessions to help people overcome their problems before it’s too late.

Members also visit schools and health fairs to spread awareness of the signs of an eating disorder.

After having her second child, Emma relapsed. And she feels her experiences with the group help her recognise the triggers even earlier, and help her overcome her disorder.